If you think that lemons are only good for lemon pies and refreshing drinks, then this article will make you think again. Delicious citrus can be far more useful than you could imagine. Bright yellow fruits have a lot of health and beauty benefits, ranging from cancer defense to acne scar treatment. What’s not to like about lemons — they’re available, cheap and good for your health.
We have gathered 9 different ways you can use lemons for natural skin care and beauty treatments thanks to its various health benefits.
1. Lemons have a lot of anti-cancer properties.
Just like many other fresh fruits, lemons have a lot of anti-cancer properties. The most recent study conducted in September 2017, highlights the importance of citrus juices and their extracts in the prevention of cancer as well as their possible use as co-adjuvants in modern oncological therapies. Packed with vitamins, lemon juice protects your cells from damage that can lead to fatal illnesses.
Lemons have a lot of valuable nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. The D-limonene in the lemon peel has anti-cancerous properties as well. It has been shown to prevent mammary, liver, lung, and other cancers. Therefore, lemons are excellent cancer fighters that can protect your body naturally and effectively.
2. Remove wrinkles naturally with lemon.
You can’t reverse the process of aging, but you can use lemons to make your wrinkles less visible and dramatically change the quality of your facial skin. According to the study, lemon oil was found to reduce oxidative damage on the skin’s surface. Lemons are rich in vitamin C which encourages collagen production and restores skin elasticity. Natural enzymes in lemon juice tighten loose pores and reduce the appearance of new ones.
You can rely on safe and healthy home remedies to combat wrinkles. Slice a lemon and massage it into wrinkles for a few minutes or use grated lemon peel as a face mask. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the effect of regular anti-aging skin care routines are visible after at least one month. So don’t worry if your face isn’t baby-smooth after one week.
3. Drink lemon water to lose weight.
Vitamin C is a nutrient that’s been proved to lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers hunger and fat storage. No single food or beverage will bring about a significant amount of weight loss on its own. However, you can eat certain foods or drink beverages that might be useful for improving weight loss results when consumed as part of a healthy weight-loss program.
Besides, if you drink water infused with lemon instead of a drink that is higher in calories like coffee with sugar or fruit juice, you’ll consume fewer calories. While a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola has 140 calories, and there are 46 calories in apple juice per 100 ml, lemon juice mixed with water has 0 calories. Therefore, it can help you lose weight.
4. Lemon juice for liver detox
Drinking lemon water is a great way to start a simple detox of your body and improve the work of the digestive system. The pectin in the lemon helps to emulsify oils and remove waste from the bowels. The choline in the lecithin and the oils in the citrus skin help liver detoxification to work more effectively. Lecithin leads to an increase in fat splitting, fat absorption, and fat digestion.
Here’s a simple yet effective drink that you can make at home:
- 1 whole lemon;
- ½ cup of water;
- 1 tsp of lecithin (or a raw egg);
- 2-3 tsp raw coconut butter or extra virgin olive oil;
- 1 capsule of vitamin E;
- 1 knob of fresh ginger.
Mix all the ingredients and blend for one minute. Keep the drink in the fridge and make sure to drink it within the next day. For the best results, drink half of the mix before breakfast. It’s an amazing brew!
5. Use lemons to treat throat infections.
Lemons are rich in essential vitamins and minerals that help increase your energy levels. Lemons are also high in vitamin C, a natural antioxidant which enhances the immune system and has antibacterial properties.
Honey, warm water, and lemon is a time-proven solution for treating a sore throat. Honey coats the throat while the lemon reduces mucus. You’ll need to boil water for the hot beverage, add lemons cut into pieces, and honey. Let the drink cool. To relax the throat muscles, drink the tea while it’s still warm. If you have a high fever, drink it when it’s already cool.
The tasty mix will help shrink swollen throat tissue and create an acidic environment for viruses and harmful bacteria. Warm lemon water is the most effective way to get rid of viral infections and their subsequent symptoms.
6. They boost brain function and reduce stress.
Among other nutrients and vitamins, lemons also contain a lot of potassium, which is one of the key elements responsible for better brain function. If you consume lemons on a regular basis you’ll feel an improved mental performance and less midday brain fog. You’ll feel much happier and more energetic during the day. According to the study, potassium can activate neurons involved in positive thoughts and feelings and plays an important role in serotonin regulation.
One lemon contains a whopping 187% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Add lemons to your foods and beverages if you’re feeling under the weather or when everyone around is getting sick.
7. Lemon juice can ease the agony of a sunburn.
Sunburns are never pretty and they feel awful. However, there’s a simple yet effective home remedy that can help you reduce redness and ease the agony of a sunburn. You’ll need to mix 1 tbs of lemon juice, rosewater, and cucumber juice. Then, soak a cloth in the mixture and place directly onto a sunburn for 30 minutes.
Cucumber and lemon are natural bleaching agents that will reduce the redness of the skin. Vitamin C in lemons minimizes the damage to the skin and lightens dark spots. Make sure you won’t be exposed to direct sunlight after using the remedy mix as it can increase your sensitivity to the sun’s rays.
8. Lemon juice can stop nose bleeds.
The nose’s lining contains various tiny blood vessels that tend to bleed quite easily if ruptured. Don’t throw back your head when having a nosebleed, but instead, keep it in a neutral position with your chin parallel to the ground while pinching your nose. Lemon juice is another effective home remedy for such emergencies. You’ll need to pour 1-2 drops of fresh lemon juice in each nostril. Be sure to use a new dropper.
The bleeding should stop almost instantly due to the high acidity of the lemon juice. Vitamin C will also strengthen the delicate blood capillaries inside your nose. Don’t blow your nose because you’ll blow the clot out and make it start bleeding again.
9. Lemons are good for fading acne scars.
Lemons are rich in vitamin C and citric acid, and they do a good job of treating minor acne and acne scars. Vitamin C boosts the production of collagen and keeps the skin smooth and firm — it also encourages the formation of new skin cells. Due to its properties as a natural bleaching agent, lemon juice lightens dark marks and scars. Citric acid cleanses skin cells and washes off impurities. The antibacterial effect of lemon juice kills the bacteria that causes acne flare-ups.
Mix fresh lemon juice and extra-virgin coconut oil and apply it to the damaged areas using a cotton ball. After three minutes, rinse your face with warm water and apply moisturizer. Also, you can combine lemon juice with almond oil to reduce the darkness and maintain healthy skin. Don’t use lemon juice if your skin turns red and is itching.
